Funafuti
Template: Infobox Atoll / Maintenance / height Missing
Funafuti is an atoll, which is also the official capital of the Pacific island state of Tuvalu.
The population is approximately 5,000 (2006). About half of the people of the State of Tuvalu live on the atoll of Funafuti. This makes it the most densely populated atoll in the country. The atoll comprises 33 islands that surround the TeNamo Lagoon, the 275 km ² area and up to 52 meters depth far the largest lagoon in Tuvalu, followed by the lagoon of the atoll Nukufetau 142 km ². The land area of Funafuti, however, lies 2.8 km ² in the middle of the nine islands and atolls of Tuvalu.
Located northwest of the atoll is Nukulaelae; In the southwest there are Nukufetau and the island Vaitupu. The atoll is located in the Funafuti Conservation Area, a 33- square kilometer marine reserve, which has existed since 1999.
On Funafuti there is only one, about six miles long road that goes around the whole island. On the atoll of Funafuti opened in 1943 is the International Airport, the only international airport of Tuvalu. The largest and most important building on Funafuti is the Government Palace, the seat of the Parliament of Tuvalu. On Funafuti there is still the only bank of Tuvalu, a post office, two primary schools, the building of the telecommunications company of Tuvalu and a small hospital.
The largest inhabited island is Fongafale in the east of the atoll, with the village Vaiaku (516 inhabitants) as seat of government. Sometimes Fongafale or Vaiaku be specified as the capital, but the entire Funafuti is the official capital.
The individual villages with the population according to the 2002 census:
- Lofeagai: 399
- Teone: 540
- Fakaifou: 1007
- Senala: 589
- Alapi: 1024
- Vaiaku: 516
- Tekavatoetoe: 343
- Funafara: 22
- Amatuku: 52
Gallery
Beach at Funafuti
School of Funafuti
Inhabitant, 1900
A weather station in the east of Funafuti